Diogo Jota was Liverpool’s hero against Nottingham Forest in midweek, but he was forced to watch on from afar as Darwin Nunez assumed the Superman mantle away to Brentford on Saturday
The 28-year- vintage secured a factor for his group on the City Ground together along with his first contact of the ball simply 22 seconds after coming off the bench, however a next damage challenge precluded him from education and he wasn’t withinside the Reds’ matchday squad in west London the day before today .
The position of supersub alternatively fell to his Uruguayan teammate on the Gtech Community Stadium, and with our wide variety nine already on a yellow card for eliminating his blouse in celebrating his first stoppage time goal, he then netted once more earlier than a past due lunge on Nathan Collins that can without problems have earned him a 2nd booking.
Slot teases Jota go back date after state-of-the-art damage setback
Arne Slot conceded afterwards that Nunez became lucky now no longer were booked for that address at the Brentford defender, which wouldn’t have altered the end result the day before today however could ’ve induced a suspension for our subsequent Premier League sport in opposition to Ipswich.That bone of rivalry notwithstanding, the Liverpool head educate is hopeful of getting Jota returned in time to stand Kieran McKenna’s aspect subsequent Saturday.
The Dutchman stated after the day before today ’s fit ( thru London World): “It could were practical if that [Nunez foul on Collins] became a yellow… I couldn’t have complained if he were given a 2nd yellow for this foul.
“It wouldn’t have had any effect on this sport , it became at 2-0, however it’d truely have made an effect on the following one due to the fact Jota became now no longer to be had today.
“Let’s desire he’s for the following one, however then Darwin could additionally now no longer were to be had too [if he’d been sent off]. We had been a chunk fortunate on this situation, however being fortunate on occasion is niceJota is brilliantly scientific however all too damage -prone
First matters first, we’ll preserve our palms up and admit that Nunez did break out with one together along with his undertaking on Collins, that can without problems have earned him a 2nd yellow card and could ’ve tempered the euphoria that his stoppage time brace sparked amongst Liverpool fans.
Having simply lower back from a one- fit suspension for accruing 5 Premier League bookings previous to the Forest sport , Slot could ’ve been raging with the Uruguayan had he gotten himself despatched off in opposition to Brentford and duly banned for the Ipswich sport .
The Reds boss has subtly teased subsequent Saturday’s fit as a ability go back date for Jota, whose time at Anfield has alas been ravaged with the aid of using consistent damage concerns – the ahead became sidelined for no fewer than 29 video games for his membership in 2024 (Transfermarkt).
The 28-year- vintage is a brilliantly scientific finisher, with a go back of 8 dreams from simply 960 mins of sport -time this season (one each a hundred and twenty mins ), and his immediate effect off the bench in opposition to Forest confirmed simply how devastating he can be.
Even with Nunez escaping a pink card the day before today , let’s desire that our wide variety 20 recovers in time to stand Ipswich subsequent weekend, as a result giving Slot even more scope for choice in attack.